Molded protective hat



J. R. FISHER MOLDED PROTECTIVE HAT Feb. 19, 1957 3 She'ets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1954 1 w Y K.

INVENTOR. JSEPH Fi s/15. BY aw, 4% 94% v Feb. 19, 1957 J. R. FISHER 2,781,517

MOLDED PROTECTIVE HAT Filed Feb. 10, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 U INVENTOR Jose y E filwae flank-w, m g

Feb. 19, 1957 J. R. FISHER MOLDED PROTECTIVE HAT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 10, 1954 INVENTOR.

uSEP/l Emu/9 BY 4 WWW/$644M I fives/V5215 United States Patent O MOLDED PROTECTIVE HAT Joseph R. Fisher, Penn Township, Allegheny County,

Pa., assignor to Mine Safety Appliances Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 10, 1954, Serial No. 409,355

15 Claims. (Cl. 2-3) This invention relates to molded protective hats, and more particularly to the means by which the hats and their linings are connected together.

Protective hats of this character are formed by molding together laminations which may be made from fabric or from oriented or unoriented fiber mats with a suitable plastic. Such hats are well known and are disclosed in many patents. Inside each hat there is a lining which supports the hat on the head and spaces it therefrom. In the past this lining has been connected to the hat in various ways, such as by a lace extending through holes in the side of the hat or by metal fasteners also extending through the side of the hat. In some cases the old arrangements for connecting the linings in the hats are objectionable because of the holes in the hats or because the metal fasteners extend entirely through the hats and thereby form conductors for electricity.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a molded protective hat in which the fasteners or anchors for the lining are secured to the hat during the molding operation, and in which the anchors do not extend through the hat. Another object is to provide a new and improved connection between a hat lining and its fastening members secured to the hat.

In accordance with this invention, a plurality of metal anchors are disposed at circumferentially spaced intervals around the lower surface of a molded protective hat which is formed from bonded laminations. A portion of each anchor is secured between two laminations, while the rest of it is exposed for connection to a hat lining. Preferably, the lower lamination is provided with openings through which the anchors extend, and each anchor may be provided with a slot through which a tongue, integral with the lower lamination, may extend. The portion of the tongue between the anchor and the next lamination is bonded to the latter. The exposed portions of the anchors are provided with openings through which connecting members extend for securing a hat lining thereto. Preferably the connecting members include hooks which may be locked in the anchors by spring tongues integral with the anchors. The connecting members also may be provided with manually actuated portions for moving the spring tongues out of engagement with the hooks so that they can be disconnected from the anchors.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side view of a protective hat, broken away to show part of it in section;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view with one of the lining connecting members partly broken away and disconnected from its anchor member;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sheet that becomes the lower lamination of the hat, showing one of the anchors applied to it;

2,781,517 Patented Feb. 19, 1957 the anchors;

position on the doughnut.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary bottom view of another embodiment, showing a hook member and anchor disconnected;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the hook member and anchor connected together; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line IX--IX of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, a protective hat is molded in conventional manner from two or more superimposed laminations, three laminations 1, 2 and 3 being shown in Fig. 3. Although these laminations or layers may be felted or unfelted mats, the ones shown are sheets of woven fabric. They are impregnated with a suitable thermosetting plastic so that when molded under heat and pressure, a strong and rigid hat is formed. In the hat shown, the lower surface of the sloping brim is formed from the lamination 3 which, before it is molded, is referred to as the doughnut because it has a large hole 4 (Fig. 4) in the middle so that it will not cover the inside of the crown of the hat. This lamination adds thickness and stiffness to the brim.

Inside the hat is the lining, which may consist of a sweatband 6 supported by cradle straps 7 that fit over the head in a well known manner. The lining is connected to the hat, to support the hat spaced from the head, by means of connecting members. Each connecting member includes a hanger 8 formed from a rather stiff plate that is bent about midway between its ends to provide an upper portion substantially parallel to the side wall of the crown and a lower portion that extends out beneath the brim. The upper portion of the hanger is provided with a transverse slot 9 that is slidably mounted on a rivet 11 extending through the outer thickness of the double thickness sweatband, whereby the band is adjustably connected to the hangers. The lower portion of each hanger is provided near its opposite edges with a pair of parallel slits 12, and a hook member 13 extends across the hanger and has its central portion engaging the upper surface thereof and its opposite ends extending through the slits. The projecting ends of the hook member are bent up into notches 14 in the edges of the hanger to hold the hook member in place. The hook member is provided with a slot 16, through which the adjoining cradle strap is looped to connect them together. The central portion of the hook member, outwardly of its slot, is partly separated from the rest of the member and is bent upwardly to form an inwardly extending hook 17 for hooking onto an achor member 18 carried by the hat.

In accordance with this invention the anchors 18 for the hat lining, which most suitably are made of stainless spring steel, are secured to the hat in the following way. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the lower lamination 3 is provided at several circumferentially spaced points, preferably four, around its central hole with inwardly extending radial tongues 21, formed by cutting the doughnut. Each of these tongues extends down through a transverse slot 22 in one of the anchors and inward between the anchor and the next lamination 2. Consequently, the outer portion of the anchor is sandwiched between laminations 2 and 3, and its inner portion is exposed. At the opposite ends of the anchor slot the lower lamination is cut transversely of the anchor out to the side edges of the inner portion of the anchor so that the full width of that portion can be exposed. Preferably, the same lamination is cut away from the outer ends of these last-mentioned cuts to its inner edge (the edge of hole 4) to form recesses 23 extending along the opposite sides of tongue 21 that facilitate placing the anchor in The outer portion of the 3 anchor, which is locatedbetween two laminations, may be provided with lateral projections 24 that extend outthrough radial slits in the lower lamination. These also. help to hold the anchor in position.

As shown in Fig. 3, each spring n'iet'alaiihoi is b nt transversely to space its exposed inner portioihfroiiii are heat brim. Although the anchor is flattened during molding, it springs away frorr'i the orini asso'oiiasthe-riiolding pressure is released. To protect the mold from rising scratched and to insure that the inner portioh of the anchor will not stick to the brim, before the hat is molded the exposed portion of eachanchor is wrapped in a suitaole heat resistant masking tape (not shown), such as cellophane. When the nrnihassnssreherded together to form thehat, the outer poi-tide or the-anchors between the laminations are embedded therein and the tongues 2i are bondedto the adjoining lamination 2. Each anchor therefore has an end p'ortioii that is em bedded or moldedbetween two laminations, and ah ex osed end portion to which the Hat liniiig can Be 6611" nected,

Although the anchors may be shaped in various ways for sensation to the hat lining, a preferred way is" to rovide their inner ends with openings 2'61ihat allow the connecting members to be Hooked onto them. To look the liools 17 in the anchors, each aiicho'r' may be pro"- vided irrits opening with an inwardlyp'rme'cting spring; tongue'27; the point of which will spring into a'nofch' 28 iii the Base of the adjoining hook and thus prevent the husk-seal being withdrawn from the anchor, as s'hhwn' in Fig; 3. For unlocking the hooks the lower ortion of each haiiger s is slit to form an outwardly extending flexible tongue 29 that carries a pin 30 which engages the adjoinihg spring tongue of the anchor. when the not; ible hanger tongue is pressed toward the hat brim, the pin 30 pushes the spring tongue 27 out of the hook notch to allow the hook to be slid out of the anchor opening.

Two of many other forms of anchors that may be used are shown in Figs. and 6;. Although these may be made of heavy fabric or the like, it is preferred to make them of metal. The one shown in Fig. 5 can be conne'cted to a doughnut inthe same way as anchor 18. It is proi/ided with a slot 35 for receiving a doughnut tongue 21, another slot 36 through which a cradle strap can be looped. In this case the strap is connected directly to the anchor instead of through an intermediate connecting member.

The anchorjshown in Fig. 6 is used with a doughnut thatdoes not have tongues, but iristead has slits through which these anchors extend. The exposed inner portion of each anchor is provided with one or more holes 58, by which it can b' cofihcdted to a hat liniilg iii any suitable mariner. 1 V A Iii the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs; 7,} and 9, the spring metalanchor 40 has atransverse slot 41 through it, through which extends a radiahtong ue 21 cut in the lower lamination 3 The tongue is bonded to the lamination 2 above it. The outer'port-ion of the anchor, between laminations 2 and 3 is provided with lateral projections 42 that extend out through radial slits in the lower lamination to help hold the anchor in place; The anchoi has an exposed wide central part, in theouter end of which slot 41 is located. On opposite sides of this portion there are parallel narrow tongues 43; The masses and the rectangular portion between them are bent transversely down away from the hat brim; but the free'end s' of the tongues are bent back up against the brim so that both ends engage it.

Supported by the lower part of each cradle strap 7 is a hook member 45 that preferably is rectangular. The

chor slot 41. The opposite sides of the hook member are ceiitrla'l part has a large opening 46, through which are strap is l'obped. At the lower or outer side of this opening'there is an inwardly extending hook 457 that is curved d the brim and then inwardly. To connect the brim at the outer sides of tongues 43. The side portions of the hook member beside opening 46 are provided with a pair of up-struck tongues 49 that have their free ends extending up toward the free ends of anchor tongues 43 in engagement with them. Consequently, the two pairs of tongues cooperate to lock the hook member in the anchor until the hook member is pulled outward with sufficient force to cause the tongues to flatten enough to ride over each other. The hook member can bestraightened and prevented from tilting, which might separate the tongues, by providing its outer edge with an up-turned flange 50 that engages the lower lamination covering the outer portion of the anchor.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

I. In a' molded protective hat, a plurality of anchors disposed at circumferentially spaced intervals around the ldw''r surface of the hat, a bonded lamination permanentlycoveringand engaging the lowef surface of a portion of each anchor to secure it to said hat surface, and

' the rest of the anchor being free and exposed for detachof circumferentiallyspaced openings, and an anchor extending through eaoh of said openings with its outer'portion permanently'ernbedded between the laminations and its inner portion free and exposed for detachable connection to a hat lining.

3. A molded protective hat comprising bonded laminations, the lower lamination being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral tongues, and an anchor associated with each tongue, each anchor being provided between its ends with a slot through which the adjoining tongue extends, whereby a portion of the anchor is disposed between two laminations and the rest of the anchor is exposed for connection to a hat lining, the portion; of l the tongue between the anchor and the next lamination-being bonded to the latter.

4. A molded protective hat comprising bonded laminations, and a plurality of spring metal anchors disposed at circumferentially spaced intervals around the lower surface of the hat, a portion of each anchor being bonded between twolaminations and the rest of it being free and exposed and bent; downward away from said lower surspaced openings, and an anchor extending through each of saidopenings with its outer portion embedded be tween the liminations and its inner portion exposed for connection to a hat lining, each anchor being provided with a transverse slot, and said lower lamination being provided at each of said openings'with an integral tongue extending upward through the slot in the adjoining anchor and between the next lamination and the xposed porhion of the anchor, the tongue being bonded to said next lamination.

6. A molded protective hat comprising bonded 1aminatio'ris, the lower lamination being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral tongues, and an anchor associated with each tongue, each anchor being provided between its ends with a slot through which the adioinii'ig tongue extends, whereby a portion of the orches ra disposed between two l'aminations and the rest of the anchor is exposed for connection to a hat lining;

the portion of the tongue between the anchor and the next lamination being bonded to the latter, and said lower lamination being provided on opposite sides of each tongue with recesses extending the length of the tongue and laterally from it to at least the opposite edges of the exposed portion of the adjoining anchor.

7. A molded protective hat comprising bonded laminations, the lower lamination being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings, and an anchor extending through each of said openings with its outer portion embedded between the larninations and its inner portion free and exposed for detachable connection to a hat lining, said outer portion of each anchor being wider than said openings.

8. A molded protective hat comprising bonded laminations, a plurality of anchors disposed at circumferentially spaced intervals around the lower surface of the hat, each anchor having an end adjacent to the edge of the hat and an opposite end remote from said edge, the end portion of the anchor adjacent said edge being secured between two laminations and the rest of the anchor being exposed and provided with an opening, and a hat lining provided with connecting members extending into said anchor openings to connect the lining to the anchors.

9. A molded protective hat comp-rising bonded lam-inations, a plurality of anchors disposed at circumferentially spaced intervals around the lower surface of the hat, each anchor having an end adjacent to the edge of the hat and an opposite end remote from said edge, the end portion of the anchor adjacent said edge being secured between two laminations and the rest of the anchor being exposed and provided with an opening, and a hat lining provided with hooks extending through said anchor openings to hook the lining onto the anchors.

10. A protective hat in accordance with claim 9, in which each anchor is provided with a spring tongue for locking the adjoining hook in the anchor.

11. A protective hat in accordance with claim 9, in which each anchor is provided with a spring tongue for locking the adjoining hook in the anchor, and means is associated with each hook for selectively moving the adjoining spring tongue out of locking position so that the hook can be disconnected from the anchor.

12. A molded protective hat with a brim, comprising bonded laminations, the lower lamination of the brim being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings, and an anchor extending through each of said openings with its outer portion embedded be tween the laminations and its inner portion exposed and provided with an opening, a hat lining provided with hooks extending through said anchor openings to hook the lining onto the anchors, each anchor being provided in its opening with an inwardly extending spring tongue for engaging a hook to lock it in the anchor, a release member substantially engaging the lower surface of the spring tongue, and means for pressing said member upward to bend the tongue up out of engagement with the hook, whereby the hook can be withdrawn from the anchor opening.

13. A molded protective hat with a brim, comprising bonded laminations, the lower lamination of the brim being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings, and an anchor extending through each of said openings with its outer portion embedded between the laminations and its inner portion exposed and provided with an opening, a hat lining carrying a hanger beside each anchor, a hook carried by each hanger and extending through one of said anchor openings to hook the lining onto the anchors, each anchor being provided in its opening with an inwardly extending spring tongue for engaging the hook to lock it in the anchor, the portion of the hanger below each anchor being provided with a flexible tongue, and a projection on top of the flexible tongue adapted to push the spring tongue up out of engagernent with the hook when the flexible tongue is pushed upward, whereby the hook can be withdrawn from the anchor opening.

14. A molded protective hat with a bnim, comprising bonded laminations, the lower lamination of the brim being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings, and an anchor extending through each of said openings with its outer portion embedded between the laminations and its inner portion exposed and provided with an opening, a hook extending through each of said anchor openings, cradle straps supporting said hooks, a hanger connected to each hook, a sweatband connected to the upper part of each hanger, each anchor being provided in its opening with an inwardly extending spring tongue for engaging the hook to lock it in the anchor, the portion of the hanger below each anchor being provided with a flexible tongue, and a projection on top of the flexible tongue adapted to push the spring tongue up out of engagement with the hook when the flexible tongue is pushed upward, whereby the hook can be withdrawn from the anchor opening.

15. A molded protective hat comprising bonded laminations, a plurality of anchors disposed at circumferentially spaced intervals around the lower surface of the hat, each anchor having an end adjacent to the edge of the hat and an opposite end remote from said edge, the end portion of the anchor adjacent said edge being secured between two lamination-s and the rest of the anchor being exposed and provided with an opening, the exposed portion of each anchor at opposite sides of its opening being provided with downwardly curved tongues having free ends substantially engaging the hat, and a hat lining provided with hook members, each hook member having a central hook extending through one of said anchor openings and having upwardly curved tongues at opposite sides of the hook cooperating with said anchor tongues to lock the hook member and anchor together.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

